Video still: Downsizing Makes Cents on YouTube
Big Lagoon State Park
A pine-shaded state park campground on the Intracoastal near Perdido Key, with water and electric sites, an observation tower, trails and calm lagoon beaches.
Pensacola, Florida · near Perdido Key
Season
Year-round
Overnight stays closed after Hurricane Isaias
Elevation
Near sea level
On the Intracoastal near Perdido Key
Hookups
Water & electric
30/50 amp; dump station, no sewer
Big rigs
Up to 40 ft
Official limit; some sandy sites
Updated October 13, 2026 · Details checked against the park’s website
On the Intracoastal near Perdido Key
The Big Lagoon experience
A 75-site Florida state park campground in the pine flats along the Intracoastal Waterway, with water and electric sites, hot showers and a dump station. Overnight stays were closed after Hurricane Isaias as of Oct 12, 2026.
Water & electric30/50 amp at all 75 sites; no sewer
Dump stationFor RV tanks
Hot showers3 restrooms with enclosed showers
Table & fire ringAt every site
Observation towerReached by boardwalk
About 5 miles of trailsPlus a paved park drive for biking
Lagoon beachesCalm water; no lifeguards
Boat ramp2 lanes, plus a kayak launch
PlaygroundIn the campground
Pets in the campgroundNot on beaches or in buildings
No laundry or Wi-FiAnd no camp store
Life at camp
What campers say
The campground report card
We don’t recycle other sites’ reviews, but the scores tell a mixed story. Campers love the trails, the tower and the price; complaints focus on tight, sandy or low sites that stay wet after rain.
How RVers rate it
Category scores from Campendium reviewers, out of 5
Field notes from RVers
Longest rig RVers report36 ft Apr 2019
Cell signal reportedVerizon 4G/5GAT&T 4GT-Mobile 4G
Last reported nightly rate$32 Dec 2024
As reported by Campendium and RV LIFE users. Campendium’s 3.9 reflects complaints about sandy, low-lying sites that stay wet after rain. Confirm site lengths with the park before you book.
Gulf Beach Highway (SR-292)
Getting there
Big Lagoon is on Gulf Beach Highway (SR-292) between Pensacola and Perdido Key, next to the Perdido Key bridge, about 25 minutes from I-10.
From I-10: south on Blue Angel Pkwy (SR-173), then west on Gulf Beach Hwy (SR-292) to the park entranceFrom Orange Beach, AL: east on Perdido Key Dr (SR-292) over the Perdido Key bridge
SR-292 · GULF BEACH HWY
Set your GPS
12301 Gulf Beach Hwy, Pensacola, FL 32507
To Perdido Key beaches*About 8 min
To the Naval Aviation MuseumAbout 24 min
To downtown PensacolaAbout 24 min
From Pensacola Int’l AirportAbout 37 min
Closed overnight after Hurricane Isaias. Florida State Parks listed overnight stays as closed on Oct 12, 2026; check before you book.
Near sea level, among the pines. Winters are mild (January highs average about 63°) and summers hot and humid.
*Drive times are from OpenStreetMap routing and are approximate; summer beach traffic can add a lot. Locator map is approximate, not for navigation.
Around Perdido Key
Around Perdido Key
Perdido Key’s Gulf beaches are about 8 minutes away, and the National Naval Aviation Museum and downtown Pensacola about 25 minutes each.
Photo thanks to Ebyabe (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Perdido Key State Park
A quiet stretch of Gulf beach and dunes on Perdido Key, with boardwalk beach access and picnic shelters. Check Florida State Parks for storm closures first.
Photo thanks to TimothyJ (CC BY 2.0)
Pensacola Beach
Sugar-white sand, the long Gulf Pier and the beach-ball water tower on Santa Rosa Island. Expect a toll on the Bob Sikes Bridge.
Photo thanks to Tomás Del Coro (CC BY-SA 2.0)
National Naval Aviation Museum
Free admission to a huge collection of Navy and Marine aircraft on NAS Pensacola. Bring a REAL ID for the West Gate; RVs park at the back of the lot.
Photo thanks to Infrogmation (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Downtown Pensacola
Brick storefronts, restaurants and bars along Palafox Street, with Plaza Ferdinand and the bayfront a few blocks south.
More places to stay
Other parks worth a look
The three closest parks we’ve covered, by drive time.
Photo thanks to Perdido Key RV Resort & Marina
Perdido Key RV Resort & Marina
A 56-site resort and marina on the Intracoastal by the Perdido Key bridge, with a pool, boat slips and a man-made beach.
Photo thanks to Playa del Rio RV Resort
Playa del Rio RV Resort
A small, owner-lot resort on Perdido Key with private Gulf beach access and a river marina. No bathhouse; self-contained RVs only.
Photo thanks to Five Flags RV Park
Five Flags RV Park
A quirky, art-filled park a minute off I-10 with level pads, two fenced dog parks and trolley-car laundry. Self-contained RVs only.
Before you book
Plan your stay
Everything that decides whether Big Lagoon fits your rig, your dates and your budget, in one place.
Our take: a pretty, affordable state park base for Perdido Key and Pensacola, with trails, a tower and calm water for paddling. Sites are tight, some are sandy or soggy, there are no sewer hookups and rigs are capped at 40 ft. Check storm closures before planning a trip.
Campsite feesFlorida State Parks · checked Oct 13, 2026
Campsite$20 /night + tax
Utility fee (RVs)$7 /night
Reservation fee$6.70 /stay
FL residents 65+ or disabled50% off base fee
Day-use entry$6 /vehicle
RV campers pay the $20 base fee plus tax, a $7 nightly utility fee and a non-refundable $6.70 reservation fee. Florida residents 65 or older, or with a qualifying disability, get 50% off the base fee only. Cancellations cost $17.75.
Prices are subject to change at any time and may vary by date, season and availability. For the latest pricing, check the park’s fees page or call (850) 492-1595.
Typical January afternoon
Pensacola63°
Chicago32°
Mild winters: 31° warmer than Chicago in January; July highs reach about 92°.
Is it right for you?
Who it suits, what to consider, and what campers say.
Open
Site types
$20 a night plus tax and fees.
Open
Rates & policies
Check-in, stay limits, pets and quiet hours.
Open
Before you book
Questions to ask before you reserve.
Open
Big Lagoon State Park covers about 700 acres between the mainland and Perdido Key and is run by Florida State Parks. Its campground sits in the pine flats near the lagoon, with trails and boardwalks to the water.
Best for
- Budget travelers: about $30 a night with fees, among the cheapest hookups near Pensacola.
- Paddlers and anglers: a boat ramp, a kayak launch and calm lagoon water.
- Hikers and birders: about 5 miles of trails, boardwalks and an observation tower.
- Beachgoers: Perdido Key’s Gulf beaches are about 8 minutes away.
Consider this
- Overnight stays were closed after Hurricane Isaias as of Oct 12, 2026.
- Rigs are limited to 40 ft, and some sites are sandy or flood after rain.
- No sewer hookups, laundry, Wi-Fi or camp store.
- Stays are capped at 14 nights, and pets aren’t allowed on the beaches.
Winter in Pensacola
Typical January afternoon
63°
Pensacola
Pensacola International Airport
32°
Chicago
Chicago O’Hare
31 degrees warmer than Chicago, with nights near 44°. Normal January highs, 1991–2020.
All 75 sites have water and 30/50 amp electric, a picnic table and a fire ring or grill; there’s a dump station but no sewer hookups. Book through Florida State Parks up to 11 months ahead (10 for non-residents).
RV site $20/night
The base fee for a water and electric site, plus tax, a $7 nightly utility fee and a $6.70 reservation fee per stay.
FL senior $10/night
Florida residents 65 or older or with a disability award pay half the base fee; utility and reservation fees still apply.
Group camp $5/person
The primitive group camp is $5 per adult and $1 per child, booked by calling the park.
Day use $6/vehicle
Visiting for the day? Entry is $6 per vehicle, or $4 for a single occupant.
Base fee$20Plus tax
Utility fee$7Per night for RVs
Reservation fee$6.70Non-refundable
Cancellation$17.75Plus first night if same day
Check-in3 p.m.Out by 1 p.m.
Stay limit14 nightsThen 3 nights out
Quiet hours11 p.m.–7 a.m.Statewide rule
PetsCampground onlyNot on beaches or in buildings
Max length40 ftOfficial limit
Gate8 a.m.–sunsetLate? Call for the code
Checked against floridastateparks.org on October 13, 2026. As of Oct 12, 2026, overnight stays were closed after Hurricane Isaias; call (850) 492-1595 or check the Florida State Parks storm page before you go.
Good to know before you pull in
Five things that change your booking
Ask these on the phone before you reserve.
- Is the campground open again? Check the Florida State Parks storm page first.
- Which sites fit my rig? The limit is 40 ft; ask about level, dry sites.
- Can I arrive after sunset? Call the park before sunset for the gate code.
- Do I qualify for a discount? Florida residents 65+ or disabled save 50%.
- Where’s the dump station? There’s no sewer at the sites.
Know before you go
Frequently asked questions
A few details before you hit the road.
Season: Year-round
Planning a Big Lagoon camping trip?
Check the storm page, then book a pine-shaded site near the lagoon through Florida State Parks.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and this video. Please support them by giving their work a look. Campground video and the hero still: Downsizing Makes Cents on YouTube. Park photos via Wikimedia Commons by Ebyabe (CC BY-SA 3.0; taken in 2010). Area photos via Wikimedia Commons: Ebyabe (Perdido Key State Park; CC BY-SA 3.0), TimothyJ (Pensacola Beach; CC BY 2.0), Tomás Del Coro (Naval Aviation Museum; CC BY-SA 2.0) and Infrogmation (Palafox Street; CC BY-SA 4.0); the images were resized. Other-park photos: Perdido Key RV Resort & Marina, Playa del Rio RV Resort and Five Flags RV Park. Review-site logos are trademarks of their owners.
Disclaimer
RV-Roundup is an independent, community-based resource created to help RV travelers and to support and promote the parks we feature. RV-Roundup is not owned by, operated by, or officially affiliated with Big Lagoon State Park unless otherwise stated.
The information on this page was prepared using the most current details available at the time of publication, including the park’s published materials and publicly available sources. Pricing, availability, rules, policies, regulations, amenities and other details are set by the park and may change at any time without notice. Before you travel or book, please confirm all details directly with Big Lagoon State Park at floridastateparks.org or (850) 492-1595. RV-Roundup is not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes made after publication.
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